Ten top liberal arts colleges that are adapting with changing times and preparing the next generation for the roller coaster called life

One of the oldest subjects in the world, liberal arts originated during the most explorative period of 5th century Greece. It was regarded as the hallmark of a good education for all free men, thus the term liberal. Although it may have changed in identity, or rather expanded, it still enables society to probe the boundaries of subjects including, but not limited to, literature, language, history, philosophy, mathematics, psychology and science.

In a developing country like India which is riddled by so many teething problems, yet whose educational aspirations are dominated by engineering and management, the need for liberal arts is only amplified. Lucky for us, higher education has started taking humanities seriously, giving us dedicated and uncompromising liberal arts institutes like Ashoka University in New Delhi and FLAME University in Pune.

On the other hand there are seasoned players like Lady Shri Ram College and St Stephens College in Delhi and Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts in Pune, which have tailored their curriculum and environment to facilitate interdisciplinary learning. Here we look at ten institutes who have successfully amalgamated humanities with the sciences and their most interesting courses on offer.

ASHOKA UNIVERSITY, DELHIOne of the largest philanthropic efforts in education with over 40 founding members, Ashoka University is the most promising institute on the higher education plane today. Its legendary Young India Fellowship (YIF) is still the flagship course and also the toughest programme to get enrolled into. Apart from that, the curriculum structure for undergraduate liberal arts education is flexible and extensive. The structure is made up of three main elements; the major, minor and foundation courses.

While majors range from political science to mathematics in the Bachelor of Arts or Science, it is their list of interdisciplinary majors that is compelling. The B.A in History and International Relations, B.Sc in Computer Science and Entrepreneurship and B.A in Politics, Philosophy and Economics are just a few of their exciting interdisciplinary majors. Unusual short courses in subjects like ceramics, performing arts, theatre and design cater to every student's hidden inclinations and helps bring them to the forefront. Through compulsory sessions on critical thinking in the first two semesters, Ashoka is preparing students to navigate the dynamic and complex future that lies ahead of them. Cost Rs 7-8 lakh a year More details on www.ashoka.edu.in

JINDAL SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES, DELHIThis school started with a batch of 13 students in 2003, and is part of the OP Jindal University in Haryana. With 50 students today, this institute envisions the world with more social innovators than mere engineers. Their curriculum covers all the fundamental bases of a good liberal arts curriculum and offers a very specific and interesting range of courses including political economy of land and natural resources; desire, law and popular culture; and urban space, theory and policy in India, China and South Africa.

They have taken the initiative to start an artist-in-residence programme for their students enabling them to create and collaborate over a range of genres. Students can also finish the second half of their four year degree at Rollins College in Florida as part of their dual degree programme. Cost Rs 7-8 lakh a year More details on www.jslh.edu.in

FLAME UNIVERSITY, PUNEThe Foundation for Liberal and Management Education (FLAME) is one of the oldest dedicated liberal education institutes in the country. Notified as an autonomous university in 2015, it offers a multidisciplinary course structure similar to that of Ashoka, herein students are allowed to take up a range of foundation courses over the first few semesters before taking a well-informed decision on the subject they would like to major in. What is unique at this institute is its extensive variety of courses that allows a student to major in subjects such as music, dance, public policy, entrepreneurship and film and TV. Cost Rs 6 lakh a year More details on www.flame.edu.in

LADY SHRI RAM COLLEGE, DELHI

Lady Shri Ram College for Women has consistently ranked among the top humanities colleges in India and is known for producing women that have made a mark in every field they have ventured into. Scholar Nivedita Menon, who is one of the most powerful feminist voices in India, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and political leader Maneka Gandhi count amongst its alumni, which only goes to show the need to drive change that LSR instils in every one of its students. Of a total of 15 departments, 10 are dedicated to the humanities at this college, some of the most popular being Sociology, History, Political science and Economics. Cost Rs 16,000- Rs 30,000 a year More details on lsr.edu.in

ST STEPHENS COLLEGE, DELHISt Stephens College is one of the most coveted institutes for arts in India. With a stellar line up of alumni including Shashi Tharoor, Amitav Ghosh and even the former president of Pakistan Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, the college only accepts the brightest minds in the country and gives them an equally exceptional education. It follows the choice based credit system that allows students to choose their courses and subjects with the ultimate objective of earning the required number of credits. Some of the interesting courses they have are science fiction and detective literature, travel writing and literary theory. Cost Rs 30,000- Rs 35,000 a year More details on ststephens.edu

MADRAS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE, CHENNAIMadras Christian College (MCC) was founded in 1837 by a host of Scottish missionaries and built upon by dedicated Indian teachers and the contribution of generations of brilliant students over the years. This college was among the first institutions in the country to be granted autonomy in 1978. MCC provides an all round learning experience, combining values, ethics, innovation and creativity. It encourages experimentation and risk-taking, while inculcating a sense of self-assessment and self-awareness in its students. The college offers self-financed as well as aided day and evening programmes in the field of liberal arts like English, Social Work, Economics, Philosophy, History, amongst the popular few. Cost Rs 10,000- Rs 20,000 a year More details on www.mcc.edu.in

CHRIST UNIVERSITY, BANGALOREBangalore's Christ University was founded in July 1969 and quickly became the most preferred educational institute in the city and then the country in the following three decades. The university provides development nurtured with individual's holistic growth. Christ University has been proactive in redefining its mission by constantly adapting with time, which has in turn helped keep their liberal arts courses in tune with the rapidly changing demands of the country. Bachelors' of Arts is a three year course wherein students can opt for any of the subjects in humanities and social science streams like English, History, Sociology, Economics and a range of regional languages. Cost Rs 3-4 lakh a year More details on www.christuniversity.in

AZIM PREMJI UNIVERSITY, BANGALOREAzim Premji University was set up in 2001 as part of the Azim Premji Foundation with a clear social purpose of developing outstanding professionals in the domains of education and development for the entire country. As an institution, it exists to make significant contributions through education towards the building of a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society. Three-year, full-time, residential Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degrees are offered by the departments of Physics, Biology, Economics, Combined humanities (History, Language, Literature and Philosophy), amongst others. Students also have the choice of selecting from several minors that cover the Sciences, Economics, Development studies, Education studies and Data sciences. Cost Rs 2-3 lakh a year More details on www.azimpremjiuniversity. edu.in

SYMBIOSIS SCHOOL FOR LIBERAL ARTS, PUNEThe Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts (SSLA) in Pune offers students the opportunity to study a four-year fulltime Bachelor of Arts (Liberal Arts Degree) covered over eight semesters. The Liberal Arts programme is structured on the basis of international models and aims to offering students a wide range of courses with the freedom to pick and choose minor and major courses from areas previously considered to be academically incompatible'. For instance, a student can combine a Business studies major with a Philosophy minor or a Maths and Statistics major with an Anthropology minor. Cost Rs 3-4 lakh a year More details on www.ssla.edu.in

LOYOLA COLLEGE, CHENNAILoyola College, a Catholic minority institution in Chennai, was founded by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1925, with the primary objective of providing university education in a Christian atmosphere for deserving students. Loyola College has played an important role in the history of education in India and aims to promote multidisciplinary research and education in arts and humanities by providing combinations of the subjects in a major-minor framework. The programmes include English, Economics, Foreign Languages, History, Philosophy, Human Resource Management and more. Cost Rs 4,000- Rs 48,000 a year More details on www.loyolacollege.edu

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